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Eugene Clifford Oct 03 2007
Funeral services for Eugene L. Clifford, age 85, of Watertown, SD will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2007 in the Hazel United Methodist Church, Hazel, SD. Rae Speiser will officiate. Eugene passed away on October 3, 2007 at a care center in Watertown. Burial, with military graveside rites provided by Cook-Olsen Post #217 of American Legion, Hayti, SD, will be in the Hazel Cemetery, Hazel, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Cook-Olsen Post #217 of Amreican Legion, Hayti. Active pallbearers will be: Paul Everson, Kelly Olsen, Heath Heiman, Leo Jensen, Dan Clifford, and Lynn Singrey. Music will be provided by Dorothy Brugman, organist and Keith James, soloist. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday preceding services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the Community Center by 9:30 a.m. for a prayer service. Eugene was born on November 13, 1921 at Hazel, SD to Leo S. and Nelle (Larson) Clifford. He graduated from Hazel High School, Hazel. He attended SDSU for one year and then entered the Army Air Corp; serving in WWII. After his discharge from the service, Eugene married Fern Wolf on March 7, 1948 at Hazel, SD. He operated the grocery store in Hazel, was elected Sheriff in 1952, and later operated Jack-n-Jill in Hayti, SD. He also worked for the Dept. of Transportation as an examiner for drivers’ licenses. He retired and drove bus for Hamlin Co. Schools. Eugene was a member of the Hazel United Methodist Church his entire life. He was also a member of the Legion, Masons, Eastern Star, and Kampeska Coin & Stamp Club. He enjoyed music, the Minnesota Twins, having coffee with friends, camping, and fireworks; where he ran a stand. He was a very devoted grandfather. Eugene is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Fern of Watertown, SD; three sons: Lee and his wife, Clarice Clifford of Watertown, SD, Milo and his wife, Ann Clifford of Hayti, SD, and Lon Clifford and his fiancé, Robin Althoff of Hazel, SD; one daughter, Nona Clifford of Watertown, SD, two sisters-in-law: Blanche Wolf of Estelline, SD and Ann Clifford of Watertown, WI; four granddaughters: Doranna (Deon) Knutson, Erin (Heath) Heiman, Monica (Paul) Everson, and Mallory (Kelly) Olsen; eight great-grandchildren: Devon Knutson, Lane Everson, Grace Everson, Cole Heiman, Emily Everson, Hannah Heiman, Morgan Olsen, and Tate Everson, and many nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Merle, and one brother, Burdette.

Eugene Clifford
Oct 03 2007

Funeral services for Eugene L. Clifford, age 85, of Watertown, SD will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2007 in the Hazel United Methodist Church, Hazel, SD. Rae Speiser will officiate. Eugene passed away on October 3, 2007 at a care center in Watertown.

Burial, with military graveside rites provided by Cook-Olsen Post #217 of American Legion, Hayti, SD, will be in the Hazel Cemetery, Hazel, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Cook-Olsen Post #217 of Amreican Legion, Hayti. Active pallbearers will be: Paul Everson, Kelly Olsen, Heath Heiman, Leo Jensen, Dan Clifford, and Lynn Singrey. Music will be provided by Dorothy Brugman, organist and Keith James, soloist.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday preceding services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the Community Center by 9:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

Eugene was born on November 13, 1921 at Hazel, SD to Leo S. and Nelle (Larson) Clifford. He graduated from Hazel High School, Hazel. He attended SDSU for one year and then entered the Army Air Corp; serving in WWII.

After his discharge from the service, Eugene married Fern Wolf on March 7, 1948 at Hazel, SD. He operated the grocery store in Hazel, was elected Sheriff in 1952, and later operated Jack-n-Jill in Hayti, SD. He also worked for the Dept. of Transportation as an examiner for drivers’ licenses. He retired and drove bus for Hamlin Co. Schools.

Eugene was a member of the Hazel United Methodist Church his entire life. He was also a member of the Legion, Masons, Eastern Star, and Kampeska Coin & Stamp Club. He enjoyed music, the Minnesota Twins, having coffee with friends, camping, and fireworks; where he ran a stand. He was a very devoted grandfather.

Eugene is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Fern of Watertown, SD; three sons: Lee and his wife, Clarice Clifford of Watertown, SD, Milo and his wife, Ann Clifford of Hayti, SD, and Lon Clifford and his fiancé, Robin Althoff of Hazel, SD; one daughter, Nona Clifford of Watertown, SD, two sisters-in-law: Blanche Wolf of Estelline, SD and Ann Clifford of Watertown, WI; four granddaughters: Doranna (Deon) Knutson, Erin (Heath) Heiman, Monica (Paul) Everson, and Mallory (Kelly) Olsen; eight great-grandchildren: Devon Knutson, Lane Everson, Grace Everson, Cole Heiman, Emily Everson, Hannah Heiman, Morgan Olsen, and Tate Everson, and many nieces and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Merle, and one brother, Burdette.

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